West End box office returns were down 6% in the first quarter of this year, according to figures released by the Society of London Theatre, while attendances were down 10%.

Figures for this year’s first quarter were affected by the fact that several West End musical houses – including the 2,200-seat Theatre Royal Drury Lane – were dark in between shows. Also, Easter, a traditionally strong weekend for the West End, fell later in the calendar year.

Big openings in the coming weeks include Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre.